Hometown heroes: Six local products in Saturday's SCBL All-Star game in Gastonia

By Richard Walker

Published: Wednesday, July 16, 2014 at 10:29 AM.

GASTONIA – Six local products have been chosen for Saturday’s Southern Collegiate Baseball League at Sims Legion Park.

Three are on the Blue team – Gardner-Webb’s J.D. Huggins of the Carolina Vipers, 2013 South Point High graduate Justin Pace of the Pineville Pioneers and Belmont Abbey’s Levi Wright of the Ballatyne Smokies. And three are on the red team – Gardner-Webb’s Sam Fulginiti of the Carolina Vipers, Belmont Abbey’s Weston Clarke of the Ballantyne Smokies and Gardner-Webb’s Even Hyatt of the Ballantyne Smokies.

Players report at 2 p.m. Saturday, with a pro tryout session slated for 3 p.m. and the game to start at 7:15 p.m.

National attention

Jordan Edgerton (South Point 2011) was featured last week in USA Today’s Sports Weekly in the Minor Leagues’ “In Focus” feature.

“Right now, I have the best job in the world,” Edgerton told USA Today. “And I’m not focusing on anything other than my job. That’s to be the best baseball player I can be and fulfill my dreams.”

A ninth-round draft pick of the Atlanta Braves last month, Edgerton is hitting .350 with three home runs and 25 RBIs in 22 games for Danville of the Appalachian Rookie League.

Summer pro basketball

Gastonia’s Hassan Whiteside averaged 6.5 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.0 blocked shots and 16.5 minutes in two summer league games for the Toronto Raptors (1-2), who played late Wednesday night in the NBA’s Las Vegas Summer League tournament.

Minor leagues

Preston Lyon (Forestview Class of 2008) is back in the United League with the San Angelo Colts after playing 30 games for the White Sands Pupfish of the Pecos League. Lyon, who played for San Angelo last season, hit .313 with nine home runs and 38 RBIs in 30 games for the Pupfish.

After two weeks in the major leagues, Jake Buchanan (North Gaston 2007) returned to Class AAA Oklahoma City of the Pacific Coast League. Buchanan is 7-5 with a 3.87 ERA in 16 appearances (15 starts) for the top Houston Astros’ minor league affiliate.

Mitch Harris (South Point 2004) is 1-0 with a 3.74 ERA in 16 appearances for Springfield. The Cardinals are the Class A Florida State League affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Devin Harris (Ashbrook 2006) is hitting .266 with nine home runs and 36 RBIs in 66 games for Richmond. The Flying Squirrels are the Class AA Eastern League affiliate of the San Francisco Giants.

Julian Ridings (Crest 2010) is hitting .272 with two home runs and eight RBIs in 29 games for Charlotte, Fla. The Stone Crabs are the Class A Florida State League affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays.

Mason McCullough (Crest 2011) is 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA in two appearances for Hillsboro. The Hops are the class A Northwest League affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Former Belmont Abbey standout Alex Castellanos is hitting .254 with five home runs and 28 RBIs in 77 games for El Paso. The Chihuahuas are the Class AAA Pacific Coast League affiliate of the San Diego Padres.

Former Belmont Abbey and Gardner-Webb standout Emilio Pagan is 2-2 with 10 saves and a 3.24 ERA in 26 appearances for Clinton. The Lumber Kings are the Class A Northwest League affiliate of the Seattle Mariners.

Former Belmont Abbey standout Cody Stull is 1-0 with two saves and a 0.82 ERA in seven appearances for the Oakland Athletics rookie Arizona League affiliate.

Former Gardner-Webb standout Blake Lalli is hitting .251 with one home run and 16 RBIs in 66 games for Reno. The Aces are the Class AAA Pacific Coast League affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Former Gardner-Webb standout Andrew Barnett is 2-0 with one save and a 3.67 ERA in seven appearances (five starts) for Spokane. The Indians are the Class A Northwest League of the Texas Rangers.

Former Gastonia Post 23 and Gastonia Grizzlies standout Tyler White is hitting .305 with seven home runs and 41 RBIs in 71 games for Quad Cities. The River Bandits are the Class A Midwest League affiliate of the Houston Astros.

And former Belmont Abbey standout Justin Vasquez is hitting .332 with five home runs and 31 RBIs in 51 games for the Schaumburg Boomers of the Frontier League.

Arena football

Julian Rauch (Ashbrook 2003) is 110 of 124 on extra points and four of four on field goals in 16 games for the Pittsburgh Power (13-3), who visit the Iowa Barnstormers on Saturday at 8:05 p.m.

And Cameron McGlenn (South Point 2006) has 99 tackles and 10 interceptions in 16 starts for the New Orleans Voo Doo (3-13), who host the Orlando Predators on Saturday at 8 p.m.

GASTONIA – Six local products have been chosen for Saturday’s Southern Collegiate Baseball League at Sims Legion Park.

Three are on the Blue team – Gardner-Webb’s J.D. Huggins of the Carolina Vipers, 2013 South Point High graduate Justin Pace of the Pineville Pioneers and Belmont Abbey’s Levi Wright of the Ballatyne Smokies. And three are on the red team – Gardner-Webb’s Sam Fulginiti of the Carolina Vipers, Belmont Abbey’s Weston Clarke of the Ballantyne Smokies and Gardner-Webb’s Even Hyatt of the Ballantyne Smokies.

Players report at 2 p.m. Saturday, with a pro tryout session slated for 3 p.m. and the game to start at 7:15 p.m.

National attention

Jordan Edgerton (South Point 2011) was featured last week in USA Today’s Sports Weekly in the Minor Leagues’ “In Focus” feature.

“Right now, I have the best job in the world,” Edgerton told USA Today. “And I’m not focusing on anything other than my job. That’s to be the best baseball player I can be and fulfill my dreams.”

A ninth-round draft pick of the Atlanta Braves last month, Edgerton is hitting .350 with three home runs and 25 RBIs in 22 games for Danville of the Appalachian Rookie League.

Summer pro basketball

Gastonia’s Hassan Whiteside averaged 6.5 points, 10.0 rebounds, 2.0 blocked shots and 16.5 minutes in two summer league games for the Toronto Raptors (1-2), who played late Wednesday night in the NBA’s Las Vegas Summer League tournament.

Minor leagues

Preston Lyon (Forestview Class of 2008) is back in the United League with the San Angelo Colts after playing 30 games for the White Sands Pupfish of the Pecos League. Lyon, who played for San Angelo last season, hit .313 with nine home runs and 38 RBIs in 30 games for the Pupfish.

After two weeks in the major leagues, Jake Buchanan (North Gaston 2007) returned to Class AAA Oklahoma City of the Pacific Coast League. Buchanan is 7-5 with a 3.87 ERA in 16 appearances (15 starts) for the top Houston Astros’ minor league affiliate.

Mitch Harris (South Point 2004) is 1-0 with a 3.74 ERA in 16 appearances for Springfield. The Cardinals are the Class A Florida State League affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Devin Harris (Ashbrook 2006) is hitting .266 with nine home runs and 36 RBIs in 66 games for Richmond. The Flying Squirrels are the Class AA Eastern League affiliate of the San Francisco Giants.

Julian Ridings (Crest 2010) is hitting .272 with two home runs and eight RBIs in 29 games for Charlotte, Fla. The Stone Crabs are the Class A Florida State League affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays.

Mason McCullough (Crest 2011) is 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA in two appearances for Hillsboro. The Hops are the class A Northwest League affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Former Belmont Abbey standout Alex Castellanos is hitting .254 with five home runs and 28 RBIs in 77 games for El Paso. The Chihuahuas are the Class AAA Pacific Coast League affiliate of the San Diego Padres.

Former Belmont Abbey and Gardner-Webb standout Emilio Pagan is 2-2 with 10 saves and a 3.24 ERA in 26 appearances for Clinton. The Lumber Kings are the Class A Northwest League affiliate of the Seattle Mariners.

Former Belmont Abbey standout Cody Stull is 1-0 with two saves and a 0.82 ERA in seven appearances for the Oakland Athletics rookie Arizona League affiliate.

Former Gardner-Webb standout Blake Lalli is hitting .251 with one home run and 16 RBIs in 66 games for Reno. The Aces are the Class AAA Pacific Coast League affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Former Gardner-Webb standout Andrew Barnett is 2-0 with one save and a 3.67 ERA in seven appearances (five starts) for Spokane. The Indians are the Class A Northwest League of the Texas Rangers.

Former Gastonia Post 23 and Gastonia Grizzlies standout Tyler White is hitting .305 with seven home runs and 41 RBIs in 71 games for Quad Cities. The River Bandits are the Class A Midwest League affiliate of the Houston Astros.

And former Belmont Abbey standout Justin Vasquez is hitting .332 with five home runs and 31 RBIs in 51 games for the Schaumburg Boomers of the Frontier League.

Arena football

Julian Rauch (Ashbrook 2003) is 110 of 124 on extra points and four of four on field goals in 16 games for the Pittsburgh Power (13-3), who visit the Iowa Barnstormers on Saturday at 8:05 p.m.

And Cameron McGlenn (South Point 2006) has 99 tackles and 10 interceptions in 16 starts for the New Orleans Voo Doo (3-13), who host the Orlando Predators on Saturday at 8 p.m.